Monthly Archives: March 2015

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Brooklyn Bridge, is one of the oldest suspension bridge in New York City. But most of all it’s one of the most famous bridges in the world. Which just happens to be one of my favorite Bridges. This Bridge, connects Manhattan and Brooklyn spanning over the East River. Whistle on the bridge there’s a beautiful view of the city’s skyline on either side of the bridge.

“Life will just not wait for us to live it: We are in it now, and now is the time to live!” -Unknown. Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn NY 4:30pm

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act but a habit.” -Unknown. Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn NY 3:25pm

“My eyes are my favorite part of me- not for how they look, but for how they see.” -Chris Sebastian. Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn NY 4:00pm

“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” -James Dean. Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn NY 6:18pm

Remember the Kraft processed cheese singles commercials that showed the cute, happy children who were eating grilled cheese sandwich and how we envied their happiness. We were so easily brainwashed that we begged our parents to buy the processed cheese singles so we could enjoy grilled cheese sandwiches just as much as those thrilled children from the commercials. As we got older we may have begun to explore other cheeses such as American, Cheddar, and Muenster to add a new flavor element to the childhood favorite of the grilled cheese sandwich. Sometimes the grilled cheese and tomato soup meal becomes monotonous because we simply are in a food rut. But there is an alternative to this meal that still endeavors that cheesy goodness of a grilled cheese sandwich where the cheese is delightfully melted, gooey, and strung in our mouths. The month of April marks as grilled cheese month. As you have seen from my previous posts, I write about extremely unique recipes that are not usually created but are intriguing to make with variously new techniques and to taste with a variety of flavor concepts. I wanted to share a sophisticated version of grilled cheese that *fits as a great snack or dessert which is the Raspberry and Chocolate with Almonds Grilled Cheese. The cheese is paired with almond studded chocolate candy bars and fresh, sweet raspberries for a modernized twist on an American classic. It is easy to make as any other grilled cheese is and it is delicious because it offers a new definition to grilled cheese sandwiches to not only be savory but sweet as well. I simply ask that readers have an open mind to try this interesting recipe as it is very satisfying.

Spread ½ tablespoon of butter on one side of each slice of the angel food cake and turn the unbuttered side up, laying the buttered side down on a cutting board or piece of parchment.

Layer each of the 4 slices of angel food cake with 1 slice of the havarti, then set 2 of the havarti topped slices aside. Spread half of the mascarpone on top of the other 2 slices and sprinkle with the sugar. Top these with a generous pinch of the orange zest then roughly break the pieces of the HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bar with Almonds into chunks and divide among the 2 slices of cake with the mascarpone and zest. Top each slice with a few berries.

Drizzle the oil into a non-stick fry pan over medium heat. Place the four sandwich slices in the pan buttered side down. Cover with a lid and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the bread is golden and the cheese and chocolate has melted.

Transfer to a plate and top the chocolate, cheese and berry sides of the sandwich with the slices of cake with just the melted cheese. Enjoy hot.

Notes:

The Angel Food cake can be substituted for challah bread,sweetened brioche, or pound cake. Also, many other fruits can be used such as blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and even sliced stone fruit.

As New Yorkers, many of us aren’t too familiar with our city. Some tourist know our city more than we do! I’ve come across so many people whom haven’t been to the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State building and many other landmarks that our city is known for. So I’ve taken it upon myself to not become another “statistic” and actually go visit these places. I mean, what great is it saying you’re from New York but you haven’t even gone to the Metropolitan Museum of Art!?

A few days before New Year’s Eve 2014 I went to Rockefeller Center to see the ginormous Christmas tree as well as the window show. I’ve gone plenty of times when I was a kid but this time it was different because along with site seeing I went to “Top of the Rock”. It is the top of the Rockefeller building which is a 70 story high building with an ASTONISHING view of the city!

Despite the FRIGID temperature that evening, over all, it was a great experience. Observing the city from above, all the bright lights, sounds of sirens and the cars honking, it’s like music to my ears as a city girl.

As always, I recommend everyone to go. Take advantage of the wonderful city you live in. Many people wish they could be here!

Everyone knows winter is one the least liked season of the year. The temperature goes down making it extremely cold, with freezing winds blasting on us, and of course it is tiring to continuously shovel after every snow storms.

Despite of all the inconveniences, winter still has beauty to it, and it did not hesitate to show its beautiful side for one last time ironically on the first day of spring. Surely winter did not want to go away leaving behind a bad impression of itself, thus somehow winter had to manage to get the job done and redeem itself.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” – Hellen Keller

Photo taken in Queens

” Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” – Marie Curie

Photo taken in Brooklyn

“Never give up, and be confident in what you do. There may be tough times, but the difficulties which you face will make you more determined to achieve your objectives and to win against all the odds.” – Marta

Over the weekend my passion was combust by one of the biggest instameets; instagramers meet up, get creative and take pictures #WWIM “Worldwide Instameet.”

I’m always extremely overwhelmed by these meets. The diversity of people you meet sharing the same passion as you do is incredible. Though from many backgrounds, bonds are formed and you learn a lot from others.

In the same way the CUNY community brings together students with multiple background and experience. Diversity.

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” -Unknown. Manhattan Bridge, Manhattan, New York. 5:15pm

“Life is truly a reflection of what we allow ourselves to see and be.” -Trudy Vesotsky. Manhattan, New York. 5:30pm

“Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them.” -Napoleon Bonaparte. Roosevelt Island Bridge, New York. 8:39am

“Creatively is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected.” -William Plomer. Fulton St, New York, New York. 7:53pm

Art is a something that evokes a feeling. This can be true for someone who views art as paintings and someone who views art as a choreographed ballet. Throughout centuries, people have used art for a variety of situations: to share their feelings; to release stress; to state facts; to show history; to tell stores; to cause controversy; to make a living, etc. However, with the change of the times, was a change of the methods to make art. People went from drawing on an easel to copying-and-pasting on an app, and even to allowing the computer to draw for them entirely. The creativity of today seems to lack a great tangible feel.

Since the dawn of the ages there have been some form of art, not including architecture. You can see that with Ancient Egyptian’s Hieroglyphics and other “cave men” drawings. Since then, there has been a progression based on materials available and change in knowledge.

I wanted to know what people thought of the change. I decided to go around and ask a few people what they thought on the subject.

VIDEO RESPONSES

I asked some students What is Art? Here are their responses:

Credit: Cody, Eije, Al, Mike

Answer from a professional: Prof. Libby Clarke, Department of Communication Design, Co-Advisor of the Printmaking Club

I asked students Has Technology Damaged Art? Here are the responses:

Answer from a professional: Prof. Libby Clarke, Department of Communication Design, Co-Advisor of the Printmaking Club

*BACKGROUND: I have been drawing all my life, starting with pencil drawings, water colors, and coloring books (as most people). I started to progress, of course, as I got into middle school, having tried a variety of mediums like mosaics, charcoal, color pencil, and painting. By time I got to High School I was enrolled in advanced art/drawing and painting. I also held a leadership position in Art Club, doing activities in the neighborhood like Holiday Window Painting. Although I originally wanted to go into Graphic Design, however, once in college for Computer Engineering, I only took Art History and African Art & Architecture with no creation what so ever. Outside of school I started creating on faces and bodies as a makeup artist and became more technical savvy. I began creating websites, blogs, editing photos, and using photoshop. The most I drew was doodles on my school work. Today I am getting back to my roots while still using my technical skills. I have found my happy place :). I am excited to have found the Printing Making Club, using hands on art methods, which meets Thursdays at 12:45 in N 1119 or N 1104. I am also in the process of designing a poster using photoshop and my original art drawings for the City Tech’s Production “Fallen Sparrow,” showing April 1st at 7pm and April 2nd at 1 pm in the Atrium Television Studio.

To me, Art is in so many forms, music, performance, and visual creations. I believe it has damaged some art but has created a platform and a place to enhance art for the new and old generation. I do feel people need to come back to the basics and learn to use their bodies for expression.

QUESTIONS TO THE AUDIENCE: Do you believe the digital age have took the definition of art away from its original meaning? | Have new age technology made people less hands on? |Are you an artist, if so how have the times changed you?

So as some of you may already know, Obama announced a couple of months ago, that community colleges will be free. Now this got me thinking…what about us in four year programs?

Now I’m not saying we should have free tuition, since I know that would be way to costly. But can we have at least something, President Obama? While community colleges are no longer having to pay tuition, ours seems to just be going up…and up some more!

Where’s our break? Where’s our prize? Four years is a very long time, and a lot of us are struggling to pay our tuition. I mean, yes I’ll be graduating next year, but still, I would consider it a going away present if I have my
tuition lowered, or slashed in half, Mr President. (P.S. I voted for you ☺)

Am I alone in this? Am I just being greedy here? Maybe I am, but in the end I believe we deserve something for how long we have been in school.

Ladies and gentlemen, New Yorkers from all boroughs, with much excitement and gratitude, I am happy to announce that there is a new team in New York City. New York City Football Club (NYCFC), is the latest addition to New York’s professional sport teams and the Major League Soccer (MLS). Although they have been officially announced on May 21, 2013; last Sunday at the iconic Yankee Stadium on March 15, they played their very ever home game. There were a massive turnout of 43,507 supporters taking part at the “Historic Home Opener” who were sent home very excited celebrating a 2-0 win against New England Revolution, the opponent from Boston.

I took part in this amazing experience and I must say attending the first game was arguably one of the best experiences of my life. Football or soccer as others call it in the U.S, is the most popular sport in the world and my passion since I was a child. I am a dedicated follower of FC Barcelona –a team based in Barcelona, Spain– however the second I heard the news of a soccer team coming to New York City, I quickly adopted them as part of my own and founded out ways to get involve with the team. I got involved with The Third Rail which is a group of fans from NYC and the world who unites together to proudly support NYCFC. The soccer culture is really growing in NYC, thus I really encourage all of you, New Yorkers to come to Yankee Stadium and support this great of team of ours.

NYCFC surely have passionate fans, who were cheering them throughout the all game, the atmosphere was just electric. I captured some of the best moments of the “Historic Home Opener” and each of those unique moments are filled with quotes that are chants sung by The Third Rail members including me during the game.

NYC! NYC! We are NYCFC! From the Bronx all the way down to the Battery We are NYCFC! – Third Rail

Yankee Stadium

“When you were born, you made my life so wonderful. I can’t say no. Oh the feeling was magical. You inked your name on to my heart. Right from the start. A call to arms. Stand together and fight as one.” – Third Rail

Yankee Stadium

“Win or lose. We will always follow you. Let it rain, let it pour. We will sing forevermore. Our opponents know. We will fight them toe to toe. Forever blue and white. We will win this game tonight!” – Third Rail

Yankee Stadium

New York, Oh New York, Oh City said I. I’ll stand here in the bleachers, until the day I die. Take me to the Bronx, that’s where I want to be. Because I follow New York, New York City! – Third Rail

“When I was growing up as the only child, I’ve experienced people leaving me at the age of 7. Through experiencing many hardships growing up, getting picked on and people backstabbing me, it has taught me many life lessons and how people end up changing under certain circumstances. Learning people’s true colors after seeing them go through hot water changed my perspective.

Throughout my hardships and rough patches, it showed me how I can relate to so many people. I am able to give many life lessons and advice because I been through so many harsh circumstances. Life lessons eventually became my wisdom. Through advising other people who are going through many things, I try to warn them of what to do and not to do because it’s just horrible to repeat someone else’s mistake. Making a mistake twice is a decision. I’ve had couples come to me for advice, and many other type of people, but sometimes advising is not enough because people would prefer to experience the hardship and learn it the hard way.

Most of all people just need someone to listen to them whenever they mention their struggles, because we’re all struggling in many ways. Some of us are good at hiding our struggles. To listen to someone, you don’t listen to reply, but you listen to actually listen to them.”

Fear is an unwanted emotion, that cannot be easily overcome. I have been battling with my fear of heights for as long as I can remember. But get this. I love traveling on planes. How ironic right?

New York City has some of the most amazing skyline views. The best way of seeing this is by aerial or rooftops. The view is phenomenal! It really is.

Over the past few months, I have been visiting rooftops with friends to experience this wonderful view and of course to capture its memory. My love and determination for photography has driven me in overcoming this fear.

“The only way of overcoming fear, is to take it head on.”

“The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is to give your gift away.” -Unknown. Brooklyn, New York 4:17pm

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” -Thomas A. Edison. Manhattan, New York 3:45pm

“Dignity consists not in possessing honors but in the consciousness that we deserve them.” -Unknown. Manhattan, New York 4:30pm

“Happy people have two things in common. They know exactly what they want and they feel they’re moving toward getting it. That’s what makes life feel good: when it has direction, when you are heading straight for what you love.” -Unknown. Manhattan, New York 3:47pm

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The OpenLab at City Tech:A place to learn, work, and share

The OpenLab is an open-source, digital platform designed to support teaching and learning at New York City College of Technology (NYCCT), and to promote student and faculty engagement in the intellectual and social life of the college community.